Loss of Wastewater Nitrification or Inadequate Nitrification

by Hydro Solutions | December 19, 2016 7:35 pm

Problem: Loss of Wastewater Nitrification or Inadequate Nitrification
Wastewater systems that are laden with ammonia nitrogen and have an ammonia nitrogen limit must have competent waste stream nitrification. Often times due to waste stream toxicity or inhibition, over-wasting of biomass (that contains the nitrifying bacteria), cold wastewater temperatures or over grazing by biomass micro-fauna, wastewater system nitrification is compromised to the point where it impacts the NH3-N effluent permit limit. At this point either another wastewater plants’ mixed liquor is brought in to boost the nitrifier content or a commercial nitrifier product is poured into it to correct the problem.
The problem with the first of these two approaches is that when someone else’s mixed liquor is fed into a wastewater plant, along with the nitrifying bacteria that you want for your system, you also get their filamentous bacteria that may lead to a huge filamentous bloom. Now the second approach in which you add a commercial nitrifying bacterial product may work also. The downside is that the commercial nitrifying bacterial products out there contain mostly water. When examining the average commercial nitrifying bacteria, the pink/red material laying on the bottom (after you let it settle) is the nitrifying bacteria. Usually, there’s not much there. Just as important as you compare containers of nitrifying bacteria, the red/pink portion that settles out is an indication that you are purchasing a different amount of active nitrifying bacteria cultures each time. This makes dosing this material very difficult and leads to erratic performance.Solution of Loss of Wastewater Nitrification or Inadequate Nitrification
The introduction of a concentrated population of nitrifying bacteria harvested directly from a fermenter growing nitrifying bacteria cultures will allow for both a larger mass of nitrifying bacteria to be fed into your wastewater system and will provide for consistency for future applications of nitrifying bacteria.
RED TIGER is a highly concentrated form of nitrifying bacteria that has a deep red paste-like consistency indicating the large mass of nitrifying bacteria contained in the vessel. The larger the inoculation of nitrifying bacterial cultures into a nitrifying wastewater system will bring about a greater chance to reestablish competent waste stream nitrification. The large populations of Nitrosomonas, Nitrobacter, Nitrococcus and Nitroscoccus found in RED TIGER is unmatched in the commercial nitrifier industry. The consistency from batch to batch is unvaried which helps greatly in dosing nitrifying bacterial cultures to bring about competent wastewater nitrification. The chances of bringing about improved nitrification when utilizing a commercial nitrifying product is greatly enhanced when RED TIGER is utilized.[1]

COLD WEATHER NITRIFICATION – HYDRO CARRIER

by Hydro Solutions | November 2, 2016 3:36 pm

Cold weather Nitrification Problem: As wastewater cools during cold weather, the metabolic rate of nitrifying bacteria slows down. Below 25 degrees Celsius, for every 5 degrees Celsius that the temperature drops in a wastewater environment the nitrification rate is cut in half. This wastewater temperature inhibition to nitrifying bacteria causes depletion of nitrification in numerous wastewater plants every winter. Coupled to this is the potential waste stream toxicity caused by quaternary ammonium compounds, surfactants (anionic and non-ionic), PA0 and other biocides. This cumulative inhibition (cold wastewater plus toxicant) leads to nitrification failure in wastewater plants with significant ammonia nitrogen loading.Solution to Cold Weather Nitrification Problem: Through the introduction of a micro-carrier with a high cation exchange capacity for ammonia nitrogen, loss of nitrification during cold wastewater periods can be greatly reduced or eliminated. HYDROCARRIER –EN is a mineral based micro-carrier that pulls ammonia nitrogen into its interior to allow for a continuous enriched supply of ammonia nitrogen to the nitrifying bacteria that colonize its surface. The colonization of nitrifying onto the surface of HYDROCARRIER-EN, will allow for a greater density of notifying bacteria within the biomass of a wastewater system with a population of nitrifying bacteria.
HYDOCARRIER-EN can be introduced into a wastewater system prior to the onset of wastewater systems that are known to lose nitrification during cold weather periods or it can be introduced into wastewater systems that are currently experiencing a loss in nitrification. The introduction of HYDROCARRIER-EN into an activated sludge system will greatly increase the nitrification capacity of that wastewater system and assist in addressing both loss of nitrification do to cold wastewater temperatures and to waste stream toxicants.

Essential Trace Elements in Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment

by Hydro Solutions | August 26, 2016 4:23 pm

Problem: Low rate anaerobic lagoons in the meat processing industry can have compromised performance issues due to an inadequate supply of essential trace metals. The essential anaerobic trace metals nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, manganese, copper, zinc, aluminum, and boron (to a lesser extent – selenium, vanadium, and tin) are essential in the growth and metabolism of anaerobic bacteria and archaea. The outer orbits of these trace metals are used by bacteria and archaea to enhance their metabolic activity and to be utilized as enzyme activators. Anaerobic bacteria are organized into trophic levels where the metabolic by-product of one trophic level is utilized in turn by another trophic level of bacteria and archaea. The buildup of excess hydrogen, volatile acids, or volatile fatty acids can disrupt the metabolic and anabolic activities of the bacteria and archaea of the trophic level above or below the disrupted trophic level bringing about poor anaerobic bacteria and archaea performance. The break-through of incomplete anaerobic degradation products could lead to high concentrations of volatile fatty acids (which are inhibitory to nitrifying bacteria) , volatile acids, fats, oils & greases, the incomplete conversion of TKN, increased levels of reduced sulphur compounds (which are inhibitory to nitrifying bacteria), and increased BOD loading to the aerobic wastewater treatment system.
In the cold weather late Fall, Winter and early Spring months, the cooler wastewater temperature (below 88°F) leads to the slow-down of anaerobic activity bringing about increased amounts of biological solids and organic materials building up on the bottom of the lagoon and increasing the size of the anaerobic grease cap to a size that is untenable. The following late Spring or Summer these materials are then broken down leading to the excess production of gas bringing about the “benthic burp” of solids, the release of reduced Sulphur compounds and incompletely degraded proteins that flow out of the anaerobic lagoon into the aerobic process bringing about the potential loss of aerobic basin dissolved oxygen, nitrification, and final clarifier performance. In addition, if quaternary ammonium compounds are used in the processing plant, they tend to build up on the anaerobic solids and when the “benthic burp” phenomena takes place there is a rapid increase in quaternary ammonium compounds in the aerobic treatment system bringing about the potential loss of nitrification or whole effluent toxicity.
Solution: The utilization of Essential Micros 1 to correct essential trace element deficiencies or imbalances. Essential Micros 1 is a trace element formulation containing from 6-10 of the essential anaerobic trace elements in a formulation that contains specific sequestering agents for each of the trace metals utilized to ensure their bioavailability to the anaerobic bacteria and archaea and to protect the trace elements from waste stream sulfides, hydroxides, phosphates, phosphonates, soluble microbial products and chelants. Essential Micros 1 is formulated after the specific waste stream testing of the indigenous trace metals by EPA Method 770 R4.4 with an inter-coupled plasma (ICP).
Essential trace elements are an excellent tool to boost the performance of anaerobic covered lagoons. Anaerobic bacteria (and Achaea) are at the low end of the “energy spectrum”, and their metabolic rate and anabolic process’ are absolutely tied to a group of essential trace metals that act as “enzyme activators” and allow for the narrow energy bridge in which anaerobic bacteria utilize hydrogen, iron, sulfate, CO2, and other sources to drive their metabolic/anabolic process’. Cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, manganese, copper, zinc, and boron (and to a lesser extent selenium, tin, and vanadium) are absolutely essential to “cycle up” the limited energy input of the terminal electron acceptors/donors and catalyze the anaerobic enzymes, and thus make possible the utilization of anaerobic environments in industrial wastewater treatment (and throughout “nature”).
Essential Micros 1 utilizes essential trace elements sequestered by the appropriate chelating agent to provide protection from anaerobic waste stream sulfides, phosphates, carbonates, hydroxides, chelants, soluble microbial products, etc., to deliver the trace element in a bioavailable form to the targeted anaerobic bacteria and to assist in not creating a situation where gross levels of metals break through and interfere with down-stream aerobic wastewater treatment or sludge application/disposal venues. Essential Micros 1 will assist the indigenous anaerobic bacteria and archaea in their anabolic growth and complete metabolic breakdown of meat processing waste stream components thus optimizing anaerobic methane gas production, the reduction of accumulated solids on the bottom of anaerobic lagoons, reduce the throughput of volatile fatty acids, and improve the aerobic treatability of the anaerobic waste stream in Winter and Summer operating seasons.
For more information on Essential Micro 1 visit our website at www.hydrosolutions.com or contact Randy Drake at 502-899-7107.

Foaming Issues and Surface Tension Impact on Wastewater Systems

by Hydro Solutions | July 20, 2016 2:44 pm

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Surface Tension is an important component of anaerobic digesters and can be used for maintenance of biosolids in anaerobic processes. Anaerobic wastewater surface tensions can run from 30 dynes/cm up to 70 dynes/cm (tap water is around 72 dynes/cm). Surfactants, volatile fatty acids, alkalinity, oil and greases, and salt are known to impact surface tension of wastewater. Foam formation is generally the first sign of surface tension changes, indicating the presence of surfactants, significant changes in alkalinity, and/or high volatile fatty acid concentrations.
Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension of liquids by altering the surface properties of liquids and can also cause inhibition of the biological population within wastewater systems. High volatile fatty acids, oils, and detergents and increases in alkalinity act similarly as surfactants and can decrease surface tension. These can lead to carbon dioxide and methane (released during fermentation of organic wastes) to become entrapped in the sludge, leading to poor sludge settleability and foam production. However, high salt concentrations can increase the surface tension of anaerobic digesters also leading to entrainment of air within the solids/flocs of anaerobic systems.
Surface Tension values between 40-55 dyn/cm for a high rate anaerobic digester are known to promote the growth of anaerobic granules as long as there is enough easily degradable food available for the biomass. Operation of anaerobic reactors with a low reactor surface tension can reduce biomass washout and increase granular yield. Granule Maid™ can decrease the wastewater surface tension and improve granular biomass yield by influencing the surface thermodynamics of the anaerobic microorganisms. See the blog titled “INSUFFICIENT GRANULE PRODUCTION AND LOSS OF ANAEROBIC GRANULES IN A HIGH RATE ANAEROBIC TREATMENT SYSTEM: GRANULE MAID” for more information on this product.
Here at Hydro Solutions, Inc., we measure the surface tension of wastewater using Attension’s Theta Lite Tensiometer via the Pendant Drop Method using Young-Laplace analysis and reported as dynes/cm.
For more information on Granule Maid contact us at 502-899-7107.

Hydro Solutions welcomes New Team Member

by Hydro Solutions | July 12, 2016 4:14 pm

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We are very pleased to welcome a new addition to our team, Tim Bridges. Tim will join our field sales and service team where he will utilize his wealth of experience and expertise to provide outstanding service and problem resolution for our customers. We are delighted to have him on board.
Tim has spent 35 years in the industrial water treatment market. Having worked for the two majors from the entry level position to District Manager for 15 years, he then cofounded Solen, Inc. and Water Science Technologies.
He began his career as a front line Field Service Engineer and advanced through multiple roles as Technical Specialist, Account Manager, Area Manager and District Manager. He was President at Solen for 20 years.

Tim’s background is primarily heavy industry, ranging from primary metals, food processing plants, pulp and paper, ammonia plants, hydrocarbon processing, chemical processing and metal cleaning and conversion coatings. He has also spent many hours in commercial and institutional applications, aerospace and a sundry of other industries.

His job is to provide sales/service support and insight into company operations. Depending on the customers’ needs, this can range from pointed tasks such as training and product development to increasing production capabilities, automation, GAP analysis, or identifying methods to reduce cost while enhancing customer satisfaction.

Neutralizing the Quaternary Ammonium Compounds often used as Disinfectants in Industrial Sanitation

by Hydro Solutions | March 4, 2016 4:34 pm

Problem: Quaternary ammonium compounds can negatively affect the performance of anaerobic and aerobic wastewater treatment. Quaternary ammonium compounds (Quats) are not broken down during anaerobic treatment. They inhibit anaerobic bacteria and Archaea leading to diminished BOD removal, reduced methane production and reduction in the production of anaerobic granules in high rate anaerobic wastewater systems. In aerobic wastewater treatment the presence of quaternary ammonium compounds leads to biomass foaming, dispersion of biomass floc, diminished BOD removal and loss of nitrification. Quats tend to build up in the biological solids in both anaerobic wastewater treatment and in aerobic wastewater treatment systems. In aerobic wastewater systems and as they release the quaternary ammonium compounds inhibit both heterotrophic bacteria at approximately 10 mg/l and nitrifying bacteria at 4-5 mg/l. In anaerobic wastewater systems the Quats start inhibiting anaerobic bacteria and archaea at 5 mg/l.Solution: The introduction of the quaternary ammonium “Neutralizing” biochemical NeutraQuat™ will bind up the free quats and reduce their toxicity to anaerobic and aerobic wastewater biomass. In anaerobic wastewater systems NeutraQuat™ helps with enhanced gas production, the formation of anaerobic granules and enhancement of BOD removal that has been compromised by the presence of quaternary ammonium compounds. In aerobic wastewater systems NeutraQuat™ will reduce biomass foaming due to quaternary ammonium compounds, assist in reducing nitrification toxicity and improve overall biological treatment. The benefits of NeutraQuat™ is designed to neutralize the quaternary ammonium compounds often used as disinfectants in industrial sanitation. This custom blend also neutralizes phenols, hexachlorophene, formalin, and ethanol. This neutralization supports growth of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms and promotes a healthy bacterial environment.
For more information on NeutraQuat™ visit our website at www.hydrosolutions.com or contact Randy Drake at 502-899-7107.

INSUFFICIENT GRANULE PRODUCTION AND LOSS OF ANAEROBIC GRANULES IN A HIGH RATE ANAEROBIC TREATMENT SYSTEM

by Hydro Solutions | January 20, 2016 6:45 pm

Problem – INSUFFICIENT GRANULE PRODUCTION AND LOSS OF ANAEROBIC GRANULES IN AN HIGH RATE ANAEROBIC TREATMENT SYSTEM:
In high rate anaerobic wastewater treatment systems (UASB’s, EGSB’s etc.) the development of granular sludge is a key factor for successful operation of high rate anaerobic treatment systems. Criteria for determining if granular sludge has developed in a UASB or EGSB reactor is based on the densities and diameters of the granular sludge. The composition and shape of granular sludge can vary greatly. Typically, granules are a spherical form with a diameter from 0.14 to 5 mm. The inorganic content varies from 10% to 90% of the dry weight of granules and is dependent on the makeup on the waste stream composition. The concentration of the major cations (calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, sodium and aluminum) play a significant role here. The concentration of and the bioavailability of the trace elements cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, manganese, copper, zinc, boron, vanadium, selenium and tin also play a role in the formation of granules (via determining which methanogens, acetogens, acidogens and sulfate reducing bacteria/archaea dominate the biocenoces. The extracellular polysaccharide content varies from 0.6% to 20% of the volatile solids and consists mainly of polysaccharides and protein. Due to the energetics of anaerobic bacteria/archaea they do not produce extracellular polysaccharide at near the rate of aerobic bacteria. This limitation in anaerobically produced polysaccharide is paramount in the production of anaerobic granules. Anaerobic biomass that has low concentrations of extracellular polysaccharide will build granules at a slower rate and will also lose granules via washout out of the high rate anaerobic reactor.
Solution to INSUFFICIENT GRANULE PRODUCTION AND LOSS OF ANAEROBIC GRANULES IN A HIGH RATE ANAEROBIC TREATMENT SYSTEM: GRANULE MAID
Granule Maid is a blended biopolymer that closely resembles the biological polymers produced by anaerobic bacteria and archaea. The addition of Granule Maid assists in a more rapid formation of granular biomass. This phenomena occurs due to enhancement in the flocculation of anaerobic bacteria/archaea leading to a faster sludge formation and higher density of sludge retained in the reactor. Another benefit involved with the introduction of Granule Maid is that it lowers the surface tension of the wastewater. The adhesion of bacteria involved in anaerobic consortia is related to surface thermodynamics. The adhesion of hydrophilic cells are enhanced at a low liquid surface tension. The addition of Granule Maid will decrease the wastewater surface tension and thus improve the granular biomass yield.
A UASB or EGSB start up period can be shortened with the addition of Granule Maid or assist in a more rapid rebuilding of granular biomass when anaerobic granular biomass is lost. The infusion of Granule Maid will also lead to increased anaerobic reactor stability. In addition, the introduction of Granule Maid can assist in lowering effluent VFA and increasing anaerobic gas production. Finally, Granule Maid has some inherent biochemical qualities that can reduce wastes stream toxicants leading to improved gas production and granular biomass yield. For more information on Granule Maid contact Randy Drake at 618-946-9694 or call our office at 502-899-7107.

pH SWINGS IN FLOTATION SYSTEMS

Do you experience pH swings in your flotation system? Does this cause you to pH adjust up or down utilizing acid material and basic material in order to increase your removal rate? Most plants that have pH swings (some very large) will adjust to be able to adequately treatment the system with traditional coagulant’s (inorganic/organic) and polymer’s (anionic/cationic/nonionic) because they have a desired range that they work well in. Traditionally the range for optimal traditional chemistry effectiveness is a relatively tight window which is hard to dial in especially with large pH swings.

Inadequate removal issues such as
• Increase loading to waste water facility
• Leads to increased costs in surcharges or increased cost in treatment to remove.
• Lost PROFIT
• By losing the ability to remove sellable products you’re losing out on the revenue which, depending on the pH swings, could be a large number.

Solution

What if you could dose at a pH of 2 to a pH of 12 and have no/limited issues with removability. Now you can – Hydro Solutions Grease Bandit™ chemistry can do just that. Grease Bandit™ is a Hydro Solutions priority blended coagulant that has the attributes of an organic coagulant, inorganic coagulant and a bulking agent in one product without the negative side effects such as toxicity, metal salts, thick viscosity, etc. Grease Bandit™ is not pH dependent and works at a wide range of efficacy. Where most chemicals used in the industry today don’t react well at low or high pH levels, Grease Bandit™ is still very much effective in liquid solid separation.

Grease Bandit™ Benefits:
• Reduced floc size on top of flotation cell
• Grease Bandit™ is effective at high temperatures (>200 F)
• Increased revenue additional protein capture
• Increase revenue additional FOG capture
• Phosphate reduction without having to use metal based coagulants
• Ability to operate at any pH level (restricted pH range with traditional chemistries)
• Less steam usage due to less water head flotation skimming’s = ENERGY SAVING
• Traditional chemistries tend form an emulsion layer (whether water or upstream chemistry related) which entrains FOG, TKN etc. that will immerse itself in the water effluent ultimately going to wastewater, increasing your FOG, protein and TKN loadings.
• Reduced solid loading going to the final lift/WWTP system.
• Any overfeed of Hydro Solutions Grease Bandit™ is considered a food source (GREEN) in wastewater lagoon systems. Your traditional chemistries (EPIDMA/FERRIC/ETC) can have a toxic effect on your microbiological treatment (wastewater).
For more information on how we can help contact Nick Musselman at (816) 261-1292.

Source URL: http://hydrosolutions.com/ph-swings-in-flotation-systems/

Loss of Wastewater Nitrification or Inadequate Nitrification

by Hydro Solutions | December 29, 2015 5:25 pm

Problem: Loss of Wastewater Nitrification or Inadequate Nitrification
Wastewater systems that are laden with ammonia nitrogen and have an ammonia nitrogen limit must have competent waste stream nitrification. Often times due to waste stream toxicity or inhibition, over-wasting of biomass (that contains the nitrifying bacteria), cold wastewater temperatures or over grazing by biomass micro-fauna, wastewater system nitrification is compromised to the point where it impacts the NH3-N effluent permit limit. At this point either another wastewater plants’ mixed liquor is brought in to boost the nitrifier content or a commercial nitrifier product is poured into it to correct the problem.
The problem with the first of these two approaches is that when someone else’s mixed liquor is fed into a wastewater plant, along with the nitrifying bacteria that you want for your system, you also get their filamentous bacteria that may lead to a huge filamentous bloom. Now the second approach in which you add a commercial nitrifying bacterial product may work also. The downside is that the commercial nitrifying bacterial products out there contain mostly water. When examining the average commercial nitrifying bacteria, the pink/red material laying on the bottom (after you let it settle) is the nitrifying bacteria. Usually, there’s not much there. Just as important as you compare containers of nitrifying bacteria, the red/pink portion that settles out is an indication that you are purchasing a different amount of active nitrifying bacteria cultures each time. This makes dosing this material very difficult and leads to erratic performance.

Solution of Loss of Wastewater Nitrification or Inadequate Nitrification
The introduction of a concentrated population of nitrifying bacteria harvested directly from a fermenter growing nitrifying bacteria cultures will allow for both a larger mass of nitrifying bacteria to be fed into your wastewater system and will provide for consistency for future applications of nitrifying bacteria.RED TIGER is a highly concentrated form of nitrifying bacteria that has a deep red paste-like consistency indicating the large mass of nitrifying bacteria contained in the vessel. The larger the inoculation of nitrifying bacterial cultures into a nitrifying wastewater system will bring about a greater chance to reestablish competent waste stream nitrification. The large populations of Nitrosomonas, Nitrobacter, Nitrococcus and Nitroscoccus found in RED TIGER is unmatched in the commercial nitrifier industry. The consistency from batch to batch is unvaried which helps greatly in dosing nitrifying bacterial cultures to bring about competent wastewater nitrification. The chances of bringing about improved nitrification when utilizing a commercial nitrifying product is greatly enhanced when RED TIGER is utilized.

PAA Toxicity to Anaerobic and Aerobic Wastewater

by Hydro Solutions | December 21, 2015 5:56 pm

Problem: PAA Toxicity to Anaerobic and Aerobic Wastewater
The increased usage of per-acetic acid and peroxyacetic acid (PAA’s) is causing waste stream toxicity issues in food processing company’s wastewater treatment systems. The high concentrations of PAA hitting wastewater plants is causing poor performance in anaerobic lagoons and causing loss of nitrification, poor mixed liquor settling and foaming in aeration basins.
The addition of reduced sulfur salts such as sodium meta-bisulfite and thiosulfate, while partially removing the PAA, can have negative impacts on biological wastewater treatment. The high concentration of sulfate or sulfite drastically increases waste stream TDS, provides sulfates that leads to increased sulfur reducing bacteria which interferes with methanogen growth and results in waste sludge with increased hydrogen sulfide content. The introduction of meta-bisulfite and thiosulfate will increase the amount of reduced sulfur compounds to the aerobic wastewater process thereby increasing nitrification inhibition. When adding these reduced sulfur salts all that is being accomplished is the replacement of one toxicant for another toxicant.
Solution to PAA Toxicity to Anaerobic and Aerobic Wastewater
Another route to take instead of utilizing meta-bisulfite or thiosulfate to remove PAA from a food processing waste stream is to introduce a safe reduced organic compound that is sulfur/sulfate free. Hydro Solutions has developed the first nitrifying bacteria friendly PAA removal biochemical. NEUTRAOX – PAA FORMULA has been specially formulated to safely and effectively remove peracetic acid and peroxyacetic acid from industrial food processing waste streams. The introduction of NEUTRAOX – PAA FORMULA will detoxify the influx of PAA into the biological treatment system. It will improve wastewater nitrification, reduce mixed liquor foaming and improve the anaerobic treatment process when it has been negatively impacted from the usage of PAA in a meat processing or food processing waste stream.

For more information on how we can help contact Randy Drake at 618-946-9694.